Sardinia: Ice cream is worth 41 million euros.
Spending will decline slightly in 2025, but demand for quality and innovation will grow.
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By the end of 2025, Sardinians will have spent approximately 41 million euros on cones, cups, granitas, ice lollies, and sorbets.
This is revealed in the dossier "Ice Cream Shops, Ice Cream and Spending in 2025" by Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna, based on Istat data, which reports a slight decrease compared to the 43 million spent last year.
The Island is ranked 15th in the national ranking of per capita spending on ice cream , far from the top regions led by Lombardy (306 million), Campania (193 million) and Lazio (193 million).
There are 167 ice cream parlors in Sardinia, two out of three of which are artisanal, a sector that also benefits from growing off-season demand.
"The quality and authenticity of artisanal gelato, made with fresh ingredients and no additives, remain the key to its success," emphasizes Giacomo Meloni, president of Confartigianato Sardegna. The variety of flavors is constantly expanding: from classic strawberry, chocolate, and pistachio to local specialties like sebadas, myrtle, and pardula, as well as gourmet and vegan options.
Nationally, artisanal gelato accounts for approximately 43.8% of total household spending. The sector boasts over 9,420 workshops, of which 6,215 are artisanal (66%), with peaks of 75% in Veneto and Piedmont. The total Italian market is nearly €1.87 billion, confirming gelato not only as a symbol of summer but as a strategic segment of the agri-food sector.
Confartigianato, however, is calling for European regulations to protect the "artisan" label and guide consumers towards more informed choices. Because, as Meloni reminds us, "behind a good ice cream there's milk, eggs, sugar, fruit... and a lot of tradition."
